Device for attaching a tool to harness

ABSTRACT

Device for a portable engine powered tool that is carried by a hook secured to a harness or a strap in order to reduce the loads on the operator. The tool is attached to the hook by a loop ( 19 ) placed close to the centre of gravity for the tool to facilitate the control of the operator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application and claims the benefit ofpriority of application Ser. No. 10/497,509, filed Jan. 5, 2005, whichclaims the benefit of priority of International Application No.PCT/SE02/02324, filed Dec. 12, 2002 and published in English on Jun. 26,2003, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Loop for attaching a portable, elongated, engine powered tool to a hooksecured to a harness or a strap. The loop being secured to the tool insuch a way that it is allowed to turn around an axis substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axle of the tool.

Engine powered tool are widely used to facilitate work in forests,gardens and parks. There are a number of different tools available likefor example trimmers, clearing saws and different types of cutters.These tools are available in different sizes to meet the requirementsfor different kinds of work. The smallest ones are hand held whilebigger and heavier tools are carried in an ergonomic harness or strap.

One well known type of tool have the engine and related componentsplaced in one end of a tube while the working tool is placed in theother end of the tube. The working tool could be of different kinds andthe length of the tube is selected to meet the requirements for thespecific work that the tool is expected to be used for. For example isthe length of the tube on a grass trimmer selected so that the operatorwill be able to walk upright with the working tool in a suitable heightover the ground while a tool for pruning of trees have a longer tube sothat the operator will be able to reach the top of the tree standing onthe ground.

In order to improve the working conditions for the operator are thetools carried in a harness or a strap placed over the shoulders and backof the operator. This means that the operator carries the weight of thetool by the shoulders and back while the arms are used for controllingand steering the tool to perform the work.

The tool is normally attached to the harness or strap by a hook securedto the harness or strap. The tool is attached to the hook by a loop orshackle on the tool that the hook is connected to. This loop or shackleis placed close to the centre of gravity for the tool so that the toolwill be balanced when it is attached to the harness or strap. Thisfacilitates the control and steering of the tool considerably, which isfavourable for the operator.

The known loops and shackles that are used are either fastened orintegrated in the tools. These types of loops and shackles have anegative impact on the manoeuvrability of the tool during use since theoperator must use a big force to manoeuvre the tool in the device forattachment of the tool to the harness.

In this application is a device for attachment of a tool to a harness orstrap described that will improve the manoeuvrability and male thecontrolling and steering of the tool easier for the operator.

The new device for attachment of the tool to the harness is constitutedof a loop secured to the tool close to the centre of gravity for thetool. The loop is placed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axleof the tube with the openings in the loop substantially transverse tothe longitudinal direction of the tube. The loop is secured to the toolin such a way that it is allowed turn around the point where it issecured to the tool. The loop is turning around an axle substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axle of the tool.

In order to keep the stability in the attachment of the tool to theharness is the loop only allowed to turn around the axle within aselected range. This range is selected so that the loop is allowed toturn from an upright position to a position where the loop is placed atan angle of 45 degrees in the outwards direction in relation to theoperator when the tool is placed in its right position close to theoperators hip. This range makes the loop work in a satisfying way withgood stability and manoeuvrability of the tool. The preferred rangecould be different for different types of tools and operators but areselected so that the loop will turn more in one direction that the otherdirection in relation to a vertical plane through the longitudinal axleof the tool in normal position.

The loop described above makes it easier for the operator to turn thetool sideways when it is attached to the harness. This facilitates forthe operator and makes it easier for the operator to control and steerthe tool to perform the desired work.

When the tool not is used is the tool released from the harness or strapby removing the loop from the hook secured on the harness or strap. Theloop is provided with a spring that returns the loop to the uprightposition when the loop not is exposed to any loads. This feature makesit easier to attach and detach the loop from the hook since the uprightposition makes attachment and detachment most easy for the operator.

One embodiment of the claimed invention is illustrated in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Illustrates a tool for pruning of trees. The tool is carried ina harness.

FIG. 2. Illustrates a loop secured on a tube for a tool.

FIG. 3. Illustrates the lower section of the device for securing of theloop to the tube.

FIG. 4. Illustrates the loop that is attached to the hook on to theharness or strap.

FIG. 5. Illustrates the covering section of the device for securing ofthe loop to the tube.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 is a tool with an engine 10 and related components placed inone end of a tube 11. The other end of the tube 10 is provided with aworking tool 12. The tool in figure one is a saw for pruning of trees.

Close to the centre of gravity for the tool is a device 13 forattachment of the tool to a harness or a strap secured. The device 13 issecured to the tool by a strap 14 that surrounds a part of the tool ortube and the device 13 at the selected position for the device 13. Ascrewed joint 15 fastens the strap 14. The position of the device 13 ischanged by releasing the screw joint 15 and the tension in the strap 14so that the device 13 could be moved to another position on the toolthat is selected by the operator.

The device 13 comprises of a lower section 16 that aligns the tube 11 oranother part of the tool. The lower section 16 is designed for a stableconnection to the tool. On the top surface of the lower section 16 aretwo recesses 17 and four supports 18 placed to keep a loop 19 in theright position. The loop 19 is placed in the recesses 17 and between thesupports 18 The lower section 16 is also provided with a spring 20 forreturning the loop 19 to the upright position when the loop 19 not is inuse.

A covering section 21 that is extending through the loop 19 is placed ontop of the spring 20, the recesses 17 and the supports 18 and a part ofthe loop 19. The covering section 21 is also provided with two recesses17 and four supports 22 that are matching the recesses 17 and thesupports 18 on the lower section 16 so that the loop 19 is kept in theright position in the lower section 16. The loop 19 is shaped to fit inthe recesses 17 and between the supports 18 without reducing the abilityfor the loop 19 to turn around an axle that is substantially parallel tothe longitudinal direction of the tube 11. The strap 14 that isfastening the device 13 to the tool is finally put around the tool, thelower section 16, covering section 21 and the loop 19 so that allcomponents are secured to the tool.

The part of the loop 19 that is in contact with the lower section 16 isshaped so that the loop 19 only can turn within the selected range, inthis case within a range of 45.degree. The range is set by the shape ofthe part of the loop 19 in contact with the lower section 16. The loop19 is only allowed to turn from the upright position to a position 45degrees outward seen from the operator. Two protruding sections 23 thatwill align the lower section 16 when the loop 19 reaches the end of therange stops further movements of the loop 19.

1. A portable, powered tool, comprising: a power source (10); a workingtool (12) operatively driven by the power source (10); an elongated tube(11) having a longitudinal axis and disposed between the power source(10) and the working tool (12); a support device adapted to be supportedby an operator; and a device (13) for attaching the support device tothe elongated tube (11), comprising a loop (19) having a pivotal end andan opening that is oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinalaxis of the elongated tube (11), characterized in that the pivotal endof the loop (19) is allowed to pivot relative to the elongated tube (11)about a pivot axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the elongated tube (11), with respect to an upright position ofthe loop (19), towards a first direction within a first predeterminedrange and towards a second direction within a second predeterminedrange, the first predetermined range being greater than the secondpredetermined range.
 2. The portable, powered tool according to claim 1,characterized in that the device (13) further comprises: a lower section(16) having a recess for receiving the pivotal end of the loop (19); anda covering section (21) coupled to the lower section (16) to maintainthe pivotal end of the loop (19) within the recess of the lower section(16).
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that theloop (19) comprises a protruding section (23) adjacent the pivotal endthat is adapted to abut a portion of the lower section (16) to definethe second predetermined range.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2,characterized in that the lower section (16) includes a spring (20)adapted to engage a portion of the pivotal end to resiliently bias theloop (19) towards the upright position.
 5. The apparatus according toclaim 4, characterized in that the covering section (21) is adapted tobias the spring (20) towards the pivotal end of the loop (19).
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a strap (14) adaptedto secure the device (13) to the tube (11) via tension in the strap(14), characterized in that the device (13) is selectively movable alongthe tube (11) in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axisof the tube (11) when the tension in the strap (14) is released.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening of theloop (19) is oriented substantially transverse to said longitudinal axisof the tube, and further characterized in that the opening is adapted toreceive a hook secured to a harness or a strap supported by an operator.8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the loop(19) is allowed to pivot between the upright position and a position 45°outwards in relation to a normal position of the tool arranged adjacentto an operators hip.